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Boynton tallies, Vokoun solid as Panthers top Islanders

News

Boynton tallies, Vokoun solid as Panthers top Islanders

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- Rick DiPietro's return did nothingto help spark the New York Islanders.

Defenseman Nick Boynton scored for the second time in as manygames and Tomas Vokoun stopped 31 shots to record his firstshutout of the season as the Florida Panthers notched a 2-0victory over the Islanders on Saturday.

Cory Stillman also tallied for Florida, which rebounded from anembarrassing 6-2 loss to a shorthanded Minnesota team onThursday. Vokoun stopped 12 shots in both the first and secondperiods and seven in the third for his 26th career blanking.

It was a 180-degree turn for Vokoun, who was pulled after twoperiods on Thursday.

"It was a good performance, especially after that game (againstMinnesota) the other night," Vokoun said. "I wasn't satisfiedwith that result and came out tonight better focused."

"It was nice to follow up with probably what was our worsteffort of the year with maybe our best," Florida coach PeterDeBoer said. "It was really important (to bounce back). Theguys responded in the right way."

While Vokoun was on his game, DiPietro was rusty in his firststart of the season. The franchise goaltender sat on the benchthe first four games while recovering from offseason knee andhip surgeries.

Joey MacDonald went 2-2-0 with a 3.50 goals-against average inhis place.

"It's tough to take much positive out of it," DiPietro said. "Iplayed decent, and there are things I can build on. It was goodto be in there and seeing live action again."

DiPietro made some solid saves, including a stop on Radek Dvorakon a breakaway in the second period, but overall did not playlike the netminder who received a record 15-year, $67.5 millioncontract in 2006.

Still, his return did not energize the Islanders, who havescored one goal or less in each of their three losses.

"He played well enough for us to win," New York's Doug Weightsaid. "The onus is on us in this room to get thataccountability going."

Florida, which swept the season series in 2007-08, needed only24 seconds to get the first meeting of this campaign off to apositive start. Boynton grabbed a rebound near the top of theright faceoff circle and blasted a shot into the far corner ofthe net for the early advantage.

The 27-year-old DiPietro made several nice saves to keep thedeficit at one, but Stillman scored a power-play goal at 8:58 ofthe second to double the advantage.

Nathan Horton took a pass in the slot and sent the puck toStillman, who ripped a wrister from the bottom of the leftcircle past DiPietro and into the top left corner.

"Everyone contributed," Stillman said. "That's the way we haveto play night in and night out."

Stillman almost came through with his second goal three minutesinto the third, but DiPietro robbed him with an outstretchedglove save on a shot from point-blank range.

DiPietro stopped 34 shots for New York, which went 0-for-2 onthe power play. Meanwhile, Florida was 1-for-6 with the manadvantage.

"Their goalie made some big saves out there tonight," DeBoersaid. "He kept them in the game."